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The Garage Spa

Friday, 14 December 2012

Last week myself and a friend braved the cold and the snow and headed to The Garage Spa, a brand new spa in Durham for a sneak peek at what they have to offer. Built in an old garage which had been derelict for may years, the spa was impressively renovated and decorated in only twelve weeks!
I had never been to a spa before, so didn't really know what to expect... I had visions of something similar to a leisure centre/swimming baths, lots of white tiles and that funny smell, but I was plesently surprised to find that The Garage is nothing like that at all.
We were met at the door by the lovely staff and owners and given champagne and canapes... definitely a great first impression!

The entrance to The Garage is lovely, and you instantly feel like you're at home. Everything about the spa is very relaxing and comforting. I Love love all of the miss-matched, yet perfectly matching furniture and the huge clock which will soon have a big open log fire burning beneath it. This waiting area is there for customers to sit and relax before or after treatments, read a book from the large selection available and just enjoy their surroundings. Once the log fire is in, the area will be even more cosy, especially for this time of year!

No white tiles to be seen... just lovely, country style decor in the corridors and in all of the individual changing rooms, which each have their own shower, sink and toilet. I love the stag head coat hanger, the muted colour scheme and even the wooden panelled lockers.

A couple of the downstairs treatment rooms; first up, the room which you can visit alone or with your partner to cover yourselves in mud and get as messy as you like, before spraying yourselves and the completely waterproof room clean. If you're after something a little more relaxing, you can be given a body wrap or treatment while lying on the heated marble slab.

Plans for what the outdoor area of the spa will look like in the next few weeks when work is complete.

How gorgeous is this room?! I love the wooden decking style flooring and the lamps. You can take your pick from the cold water bath, the warm water, or the hot Jacuzzi style bath.

The steam room and salt rooms are both so relaxing... I would love to give these a go next time I'm at the spa.

These showers are amazing, you can choose from the cold water bucket shower (if you're brave enough!), the power shower which blasts you with water from all directions, or the regular shower.

The spa is equipped with disabled facilities, including a lift, and all of the corridors and doors are wide enough for easy wheelchair access.

The upstairs waiting/relaxing area is very similar to the one downstairs. I wish my house looked as nice as this! This is the lead in area to the massage rooms.

The Garage's own branded products are also dotted all around the spa for customers to use.

All of the rooms are laid out in the same way, with the same decor, they each have their own private showers so that you don't have to wander round in your dressing gown to clean off after treatments and they even have ipod docking stations, so if you wish to, you can play your own music.

They even have a double massage room, which is possibly the only place to have one of these in the North East (I may be wrong, but I have looked and looked and can't find another anywhere!) It's such a nice idea too, especially if you go for a massage with a friend or partner.

The rooftop, outdoor hot tub is so romantic... maybe not in the rain though! Typical North East weather!

The Garage products are all available to buy, and as these are the products which you can use when visiting the spa, it's a great way to try before you buy. They are all named with 'garage themed' names which I love, it really gives each product individuality and I love the packaging.

My favourite items are the scented massage candle, which you burn, and then use the wax as a massage oil (it smells beautiful), these also come in smaller sizes and the shampoo and conditioner, which I really want to try.

Not only can you choose from a large selection on massages and body treatments, but you can also have waxing, tinting and manicures at the spa. (I would have included a photo of the room where these treatments take place, but I was too busy enjoying my lava shell neck and shoulder massage too much, and totally forgot... oops!)

I loved my visit to The Garage Spa, and would recommend it to anyone if you're from the area. If you're not from the North East however, you can stay at the beautiful Morrit Hotel which is right next door to the spa - perfect!

Me and my friend are definitely going back to visit in the new year and try out some of the treatments.